Spring compressor



June 1929- 5. J. DENTON I SPRING COMPRESSOR Filed .lx ne4, 1928 I JNVENTOR.

P fl TORNEY.

Patented June 18 1929.

UNITED STATES SHERMAN J. BENTON, OF LA JU'NTA, COLORADO.

SPRING COMPRESSOR. 7

Application filed June 4, 1928. Serial N'o. 282,805,

This invention relates to compression tools of the type used for the removal of valves in engines of motor-vehicles by releasing them of the pressure of their springs. V

The invention pertains more particularly to tools of the above described character in which compression of the springsis effected by the moving together of two jaws at the ends of crossed levers, and itsprimary object resides in the provision of a novel system of cooperative parts by which the movement of the levers is transmitted to the jaws. A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and ,efiicient element to automatically lock the levers of the tool against retrograde motion as they are gradually brought together in the operation of compressing a spring between the jaws, and still further objects reside in details of construction as will fully appearin the course of the following description.

The tool as hereinafter to be described and as shown in the accompanying drawings is further distinguished by a novel construction of its removable jaw and a novel and practical method of automatically locking the jaws in place. These features of the invention are, however, identical to those of the tool disclosed inmy co-pending application for patent, Serial N 0. 282,804 filed June 4, 1928, and they will but briefly be referred to in the description of the present tool.

In the drawings in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the views, V

Figure 1 represents a sectional elevationof theimproved tool;

Figure 2, a fragmentary plan view of one of the j aw-members of the tool in its operative relation to the respective lever-member of the same, looking in the direction of either of the arrows A in Figural;

- Figure 3, a section taken on the line 3-3, Figure 1; v

, Figure 4, a section along the line 4-4, Figure 1; Q

Figure 5, a perspective view of one of the jaw-members and,

Figure 6, an elevation of the'toel in its operative position with relation to the valvespring of an internal combustion engine.

Referring further to the drawings, the toolcomprises two crossed levers Sand 6 pivoted together as at 7. w The long arms 5 and 6 of the levers are preferably of channel section and they provide the handles by of the levers, and the pivotal connections of Y the links with the shanks are preferably established by means of lugs on strips 13 fastened to the shanks at opposite sides of their slots.

The links; maintain the jaws in a substantially parallel position during their opera-' tive movement and they moreover increase the pressure exerted by the levers on the jaws in ratio to the. decreasing distance between the levers when the are brought together in the operation of t e tool.

' The jaws, as best shown in Figure 5, consist of flanged plates 14 slotted at one end to .admit the'valve stem or other part in the operation of compressing a valve-spring, and provided at its opposite ends with opposed slide-ways to admit the free ends of the shank-members of the tool.

p The body portion of each jaw is recessed as at 14" and alined notches 14 in-opposite edges of the recess and in flanges 14 that in.

conjunction with the body part of thejaw, constitute the slide-ways hereinbefore referred to, provide means for the application of the locking means by which the jaws are locked in place on the shanks.

' Thelocking means consist of dogs 15 pivoted on the shanks'by short lugs '15 in notches atthe ends of the shanks, and having 'detents 15 at right angles to their body portions that project through openings of the shanks to engage with the notches 14? of the jaws at their sides lying against the outer surfaces of the shanks- A spring 16 on a headed stud 17 passing through an opening in the body portion of the dog and riveted in an aperture of the slianlgyieldingly holds the dog in its normal locking position.

A lip15 on the dog curving outwardly through the before-mentioned longitudinal slot 12 of the shank provides a means for releasing the detents from the notches of the jaw, by finger-pressure. Y

The element by which the lever members are automatically locked together at differ- Y tially parallel relation within the channel of the lever.

Two bars 25 pivotally connected at the free end of the rocker arm 18, have ratchet teeth 25 engaging with a cross pin 26 on the lever 6, and the teeth of the two bars are staggered with relation to each other so that one or the other will lock the levers together at distances corresponding with fractions of the interdental spaces oi the ratchet bars.

Springs 27 stretched between the ratchet bars and the lever-member 6 hold the bars in contact with the pin. Triggers 28 pivoted on the lever 6 at 29, have fingerhumps 28 projecting through a slot of the lever member, to be brought in engagement with the locking bars for the purpose of releasing their teeth from the pin when it is desired to restore the parts of the tool to their normal position in which both the jaws and the levers are spread apart.

The locking bars are guided in their move ment by a yoke 30 which also provides a stop that prevents the long arms of the lovers.

from meeting when they are closed together in the operation of the tool, thereby eliminating the danger of injury to the hands of the user. The yoke is extended inside the lever to which it is attached, to provide a more firm support for. the crosspin engaged by the ratchet bars and the pivot pin of the triggers.

It will be apparent that in the operation of the tool, the pressure exerted by the jaws upon an interposed spring constantly increases as the jaws approach each other by reason of the connections between the levers and the shanks'upon which the jaws are carried. 7

There is little or no strain on the ratchet bars inasmuch as their angle to the levers constantly decreases while the levers. are brought together as may be seen in Figure 6.

The jaws are easily applied to the shankmembers by the automatic locking means which are independent from other parts of the tool; and they are readily removed by pressure 11 on the lips of the dogs that lock them in p ace. The jaws are interchangeable and reversible and jaws of different sizes may be supplied to accommodate valveconstructions of Varying forms and proportions. 7

The ratchet-lock for the lovers is easily released by pressure upon the triggers and it is to '9 observed that all the parts of the lock are betweenand within the channeled arms of the levers.

Figure 6 illustrates the method of using the tool. The jaws are inserted at opposite ends of a valve-spring 82 or any portion thereof and straddle the valve stem 33. ii "hen the handle-parts of the levers are brought together the jaws are moved together and compress the spring with increased force. The compression of the spring moves its end away from the cross pin 34 on the valve-stem upon which it normally bears and the pin may thus be withdrawn from the valve stem for the removal of the valve for renewal or repair. 1

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. A tool of the character described comprising crossed levers having long and short arms at opposite sides of their fulcrum, j awcarrying members pivoted at one end on the long arms of the levers, and pivoted links connecting the short arms of the levers with the jaw-carrying members and extendingfrom the short arms rearwardly in the general direction of the long arms.

2. In a. tool of the character described, crossed levers, and a locking element to secure the levers at a given distance apart, comprising a rocker arm'and a pin on. one of the lovers, a bar pivoted on therocker arm and having ratchet teeth engaging with the pin, a lever fulcrumed on the other lever in connection with the rockerarm, and a spring acting upon thelever of the rocker arm.

3. In. a tool of. the character described, crossed levers and a locking element to secure the levers at a given distance apart, comprising a rocker arm and a pin on one of the levers, a bar pivoted ontherocker arm and having ratchet teeth engaging with the pin, a spring to yieldingly maintain said engagement, a lever fulcrumed on the other lever in connection with the rockerarm, and a spring acting upon the lever of the rocker arm.

4. In a tool 01": the characterdeseribed, crossed levers, and a locking element to secure the levers at a given distance apart, comprising a rocker arm and a pin on one of the levers, a bar pivoted on the rocker and a pivoted trigger to disengage the bar from the pin.

5. In a tool of the character described, crossed levers one of which has a slot, and a locking element to secure the levers at a arm and a pin on one of the levers, a bar given distance apart, comprising a rocker pivoted on the rocker arm and having ratchet teeth engaging with the pin, a lever fulcrumed on the other lever in connection with the rocker-arm, a spring acting upon the lever of the rocker arm, and a trigger extending through said slot and adapted to disengage the bar from the pin.

6. In a tool of the character described, crossed levers, and a locking element to secure the levers at a given distance apart, comprising a pin on one of the levers, and a locking bar in movable connection with the other lever, the bar extending away from the fulcrum of the levers in the space between corresponding arms thereof, and having ratchet teeth whose shoulders face the fulcrum to engage the pin.

7. In a tool of the character described, crossed levers, and a locking element to secure the levers at a given distance apart, comprising a rocker arm and a'pin on one of the levers, bars pivoted on the rocker arm to move separately about a common axis, the bars having ratchet teeth staggered with relation to each other to successively engage the pin, a lever fulcrumed on the other lever, in connection with the rocker-arm, and a spring acting upon the lever of the rocker arm.

8. In a tool of the character described, crossed levers having short arms and lon arms at opposite sides of their fulcrum, an a locking element to secure the levers at a given distance apart, comprising a ratchet bar in movable connection with the long arm of one of the levers, a pin on the same arm, engaged by the ratchet bar, and a yoke guiding the ratchet bar in its movement and projecting in the space between the long arms of the levers to limit the extent to which they may be closed together.

9. In a tool of the character described, crossed levers having short arms and long arms at opposite sides of their fulcrum, and a locking element to secure the levers at a given distance apart, comprising a rocker arm and a pin on the long arm of one of the levers, a toothed bar connected with the rocker arm and engaging with the pin, a lever fulcrumed on the long arm of the other lever in connection with the rockerarm, and a spring connecting the toothed bar with a fixed point of the lever arm carrying the pin, and extending lengthwise with relation to said arm.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

SHERMAN J. DENTON. 

